The BBC Sound Of 2017 longlist is here

The Sound Of 2017's crop of musicians draws in names from across the musical spectrum, from Dr. Dre collaborator Anderson .Paak to cool-pop producer The Japanese House. Best Fit fav RAYE, post-punks Cabbage, R&B upstart Jorja Smith, Croydon rapper Nadia Rose, and singer/songwriter Rag 'n' Bone Man all also appear on the 15-strong list.

BBC Music Sound Of 2017 Longlist:

• AJ Tracey
• Anderson .Paak
• Cabbage
• Dave
• Declan McKenna
• Jorja Smith
• Maggie Rogers
• Nadia Rose
• Rag 'n' Bone Man
• Ray BLK
• RAYE
• Stefflon Don
• The Amazons
• The Japanese House
• Tom Grennan

The longlist was assembled by roughly 170 leading industry figures and for the first time ever features input from "international pundits". To be eligible, the acts can't have been the main artist on a UK top 20 track or record prior to 30 October 2016 - they also "must not already be widely known by the UK general public."

The top five acts for 2017 will be unveiled over five days on the BBC - the countdown begins on 2 January, and the winner will be crowned on Friday 6 January on Clara Amfo's BBC Radio 1 show.

BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Head Of Music, Chris Price, says of the list: “The BBC Music Sound Of panel, always the broadest and most objective list of new music tastemakers assembled each year - which now includes international voices too - has delivered yet another exciting and diverse list of new and emerging talent to look out for next year. These are the names that will capture the imagination of music lovers the world over in 2017... judging by the crop of talent on this year's long list, there's no shortage of future stars to choose from."

The Sound Of 2016 winner was Jack Garratt. Alessia Cara, NAO, Blossoms, Mura Masa, and WSTRN joined Garratt in the top five.